U.S. downs Brazil 3-2 in Davis Cup opener

Jacksonville, FL (Sports Network) - The United States' Sam Querrey defeated
Thiago Alves in the fifth and deciding rubber in the best-of-five opening-
round Davis Cup between Brazil and the host Americans.

After dropping both opening singles rubbers in Florida on Friday, the resilient Brazilians fought back with back-to-back wins of their own before Querrey sent the U.S. into the quarters.

Querrey dropped the first set against Alves before roaring back for the 4-6,
6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) win.

Thomaz Bellucci came from behind to stun John Isner in five sets earlier on
Sunday, with the Brazliian posting a 2-6, 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-3 win to
level the tie at 2-2 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

The 3-hour, 29-minute bout featured 22 aces by the 6- foot-9 Isner, who had
his serve broken three times and only broke the capable Bellucci on two
occasions in the setback. Isner had 82 winners, but countered that with 81
unforced errors.

The 16th-ranked Isner has now lost three of his last four Davis Cup matches
and is 1-3 when playing the third singles rubber for the U.S.

In the final set, Bellucci took advantage of a sixth break point in the eighth
game on a backhand error from Isner. Bellucci went on to serve out the match
at love when Isner committed another backhand error on the final point in the
next game.

On Saturday, Brazil stayed alive when its quality doubles team of Marcelo Melo
and Bruno Soares bested the vaunted American tandem of Bob and Mike Bryan
in five sets. The Bryans were coming off their men's-record 13th Grand Slam
title at the Australian Open last week.

Querrey and Isner each recorded straight-set singles victories on Friday to
put the United States one win away from the quarterfinals.

The 32-time champion U.S. fell to the powerful Spanish team in the
semifinals in last year's Davis Cup action.